Compare towns
Appleton vs Byron vs Penobscot vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Byron has the most affordable homes ($123k median).
Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Appleton | Byron | Penobscot | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
174Lowest |
1,154 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
58.9±12.3Highest 31% above ME |
53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Byron and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
1.1%±16.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
14.4%±13.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0%±8.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$90,417±$53kHighest 21% above ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Byron and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$122,700±$61kLowest 59% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Penobscot and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
— | $1,141±$33 about the ME average |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,301Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
— | 73.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.9% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
43 minHighest 74% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
4.1%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.